2. Elvis goes back to Washington, tries to get a Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs badge.

A day after arriving in L.A., Elvis called Jerry Schilling, a member of his “Memphis Mafia,” to have him arrange a flight for the both of them to go back to Washington, D.C. Jerry didn’t know why he wanted to go back, but he suspected that getting a Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs* badge was a motive.

*The Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD) was the predecessor to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

3. Elvis gets advice from a senator.

On a red-eye flight to Washington, D.C., Elvis met then-California Senator George Murphy. Elvis expressed to George his desire to do something about the growing anti-American drug culture and that having a BNND badge would help him make a difference.

Elvis actually liked collecting badges; thanks to his level of fame, he regularly interacted with different police departments, for security purposes, whenever he traveled or performed. Because of this he received many honorary police department badges.

Elvis developed a habit of always traveling with his collection of police badges (as well as a few of his guns). According to Pricilla’s autobiography Elvis and Me, he expressed to her a strong desire to acquire a badge from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, because he thought it would make him invincible, allowing him to travel anywhere with guns and drugs.

5. Elvis’ letter is delivered to Egil Krogh, Nixon’s liaison to the BNND.

After dropping off the letter at the White House, Elvis headed over to the headquarters of the BNND and was able to get a meeting with Deputy Director John Finlator. Unfortunately for Elvis, though, Finlator denied his request for a badge.

Meanwhile at the White House, Elvis’ letter was delivered to Egil “Bud” Krogh*, who was a White House aide and liaison to the BNND.

Egil (a big Elvis fan) thought that a meeting between Elvis and Nixon was a great idea and persuaded his White House bosses to allow him to arrange it.

*Egil would later be imprisoned for his part in the Watergate scandal, after authorizing the break-in of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office.

6. Elvis gets his White House meeting.

Egil was able to arrange the meeting. Elvis — who came dressed in a purple velvet jumpsuit with matching cape and a heavy gold chain, and wearing his trademark sunglasses — arrived at the White House at noon, accompanied by Jerry and his bodyguard Sonny West.

8. Elvis tells Nixon the Beatles are the real enemy.

“Presley indicated that he thought the Beatles had been a real force for anti-
American spirit. He said that the Beatles came to this country, made their
money, and then returned to England where they promoted an anti-American
theme. The President nodded in agreement and expressed some surprise.
The President then indicated that those who use drugs are also those in the
vanguard of anti-American protest. Violence, drug usage, dissent, protest
all seem to merge in generally the same group of young people.”

9. Nixon orders a badge for Elvis.

According to Egil, Elvis then asked for a BNND badge, to which Nixon replied, “Can we get him a badge?”

Egil said yes, and Nixon ordered it to be done.

Elvis then told Nixon how much he supported him, and hugged him (to everybody’s surprise).

Per Elvis’ request, the meeting was kept secret (he was planning to launch a comeback and felt it would not be good for his image). It remained a secret for over a year until a reporter broke the story.

12. Nixon writes a thank-you letter to Elvis.

13. Epilogue

The National Archives gets more requests for a copy of this photo of Richard Nixon and Elvis Presley posing in the Oval Office than for anything else in their archives — that includes the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.